The Cleveland Browns desperately need a big fat man in the middle of the defense. The kind of guy who requires two other big fat guys to block him. The bigger, the fatter, the better.
The Cleveland Browns run defense was historically bad in 2022. But 2023 is a new year! The Browns have the opportunity to use the draft to acquire big, cheap, fat guys to plug into the middle of the defensive interior next season.
Most recent mock drafts have the Browns picking defense in the second round. Cleveland’s first pick in the 2023 NFL draft comes in at No. 43.
43 Answers to unasked questions
The Browns need to take the best player available. But at some point, they have to draft for need. The most glaring need is defensive tackle. There are many good defensive tackles in this year’s draft. LSU’s Jaquelin Roy is certainly a standout player. But given that their first pick is in the middle third of the second round, there’s a good chance he won’t be available.
But who can the Browns take at 43 that can actually play defensive tackle?
There are two candidates that may still be around at 43 who could do the job nicely. The first is from a team up north that nobody wants to talk about. The second is from a team from the Big 12 that nobody actually talks about. Both can hold down the fort fort in the middle.
Siaki Ika is a behemoth of a man hailing from Baylor University. He specializes in stopping the run and collapsing the pocket. He regularly occupies two blockers allowing linebackers to run free. What is not to like about Ika?
Mazi Smith of Michigan is a complete defensive tackle. He can play the run using a double gap technique. He employs multiple pass-rush techniques. He’s also impossible to block one on one.
But will either be available at 43? Maybe neither. Maybe both. Let’s turn to the first option now.
Siaki Ika, DT Baylor 6-foot-4, 355lbs
Siaki Ika excels against the run. He’s a big guy and he’s not afraid to use his weight. Ika will line up anywhere from a 3 technique to a zero technique. Ika hits opponents with heavy hands often knocking them back.
He will occupy space forcing ball carriers to go around him. He plays single-gap defense complimenting his normal double-gap technique. He squats into a gap closing it off to ball carriers. As a run defender, Ika is the classic hold-your-ground at-all-costs type of player.
His weakness lies in his lack of quickness. When defending zone schemes, he struggles to get in front of the initial blocker. The initial blocker is usually the one going after the linebacker.
It’s vital at the NFL level that the defensive tackle is quick enough to occupy two blockers running parallel down the line of scrimmage. At 355 pounds, Ika struggles to move parallel to the line of scrimmage. This constitutes a major red flag in the AFC where there the Cincinnati Bengals and Baltimore Ravens employ zone-based schemes.
The Pass
Ika often found himself on the bench during passing downs. This could be by design to save him for running down or a result of his lack of pass-rush skills. Nonetheless, when he is rushing the passer, Ika collapses the pocket on quarterbacks forcing them to move laterally out of the pocket. In this respect, Ika would be a great compliment to defensive end Myles Garret who often sees quarterbacks step up in the pocket to elude him.
Outside of his excellent bull rush, Ika struggles to rush the passer. He uses no secondary moves and rarely hand-fights. Teams double-team Ika on the pass rush neutralizing him as a threat. Unless he learns a more sophisticated means of rushing the passer, Ika will be relegated to a two-down player in the NFL.
Ika and the Browns
If the Browns want a two-down run stuffer, Ika is clearly the man. He can stuff up the middle of the offensive line with a double-gap technique. But his lack of quickness makes one pause for concern over zone schemes at the NFL level.
His pass-rush skills will need to be developed. His bull rush technique is extremely effective. But in the NFL, a defender needs multiple moves and countermoves. Only rare exceptions like Garret can make it in the NFL with one pass-rush technique.
If Ika is available at pick 42, he’s being projected as high as pick 20 to the Seattle Seahawks, he may be the answer to the question. But the Browns should not trade up for him. The chances of Ika being available at 42 are better than half. A desperate team could do anything. But a one-dimensional run-stuffing nose tackle should not go in the first round.
A Michigan guy?
The large segment of Browns fans who want to see Cleveland draft nothing but Ohio State Buckeyes players need to relax. The Browns need help at defensive tackle. Besides, the last defensive tackle the Browns took from Ohio State hasn’t exactly panned out. So, why not look at talent anywhere it can be found? It worked out with wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones so far.
Mazi Smith DT Michigan 6-foot-3, 337lbs.
Mazi Smith should be a first-round pick. He may not be though.
In October of 2022, Smith was charged with carrying a concealed weapon which is a felony charge. In December of 2022, that charge was dropped as a part of a plea deal that landed him 12 months probation. Character concerns may drop him out of the first round.
If he falls out of the first round, the Browns should run to the podium to draft him.
The Run
Mazi Smith is a run-stopping machine. He possesses all the skills a team is looking for in a zero to 3 technique. He has excellent later skills enabling him to cross the blocker’s face in zone players. He uses an excellent punch to get separation from blockers, put on a move, and get free.
If there are negatives to his game, and this is nitpicky, he will sometimes miss tackles in the hole. After doing all the work to get free, he will end up missing the tackle. Also, he will sometimes line up further off the ball to get a better read off the blocker. This makes him “late” off the ball which can lead to being blocked.
The Pass
Mazi Smith is an excellent technical pass rusher. He cannot be blocked one on one. Ohio State tried it a couple of times and wished they had not. But even double-teamed, he will employ a rip, swim and push and pull technique. Given that he is doubled incessantly, he has not shown a bull rush.
If there is a negative to his pass rush game, he sometimes is “late” off the ball. As mentioned above, he will sometimes line up off the ball to get a better read of the offensive lineman. Doing so gives the offensive lineman an extra step that Smith could afford to give in college but will not get away with in the NFL.
Smith and the Browns
Mazi Smith would be a perfect addition to the Browns’ defensive tackle room based on his ability to play football. He brings the run-stopping size and skills they sorely need. He can rush the passer utilizing excellent technique. He is unblockable one-on-one.
The issue of concealed weapons will be one the Browns will need to monitor. But honestly, Ohio is a constitutional carry state. Smith can legally bring a whole arsenal to Cleveland under current state laws.
Former Browns head coach Mike Pettine said, “You don’t win games with boy scouts”. At some point, the Browns have to take a chance on a guy with a checkered past. Provided Smith is compliant with his probation and obeys state laws, the Browns should welcome him to Cleveland.
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